Best Villain: Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin
Forget Superman’s Lex Luthor–Norman Osborn is the original corrupt businessperson turn criminal mastermind of comics. His combination of high-level intellect, strategic acumen, and psychopathic ruthlessness make him one of the most dangerous men alive.
Not that any one would think this when making his debut in Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #14. After all, here was this spindly, green elf wearing a purple tunic, stocking cap, with matching gloves and booties, riding around on a rocket powered broomstick (the bat-glider would come later). This was not the look of someone who would one day become the archenemy of Spider-Man.
But that all changed when the Green Goblin became the first villain to figure out Peter Parker was Spider-Man. And once he also revealed he was the father of Peter’s collegiate roommate, Harry Osborn, the usual battle between hero and villain took on soap operatic proportions.
The amount of physical, emotional, and psychological toils Norman afflicted onto Peter since then are worthy of its own list. His most devastating blow, of course, was causing the death of Peter’s beloved Gwen Stacy. When he was believed dead, he orchestrated the event to make Peter think he was his own clone. He even once tried brainwashing Peter into thinking he was his own son. Basically, anything Norman could think of to make Spider-Man suffer, he did.
The Green Goblin has also, in recent years, applied his villainy onto the larger stage of the Marvel Universe. He even once managed to convince the U.S. Government to appoint him director of S.H.I.E.L.D. He’s also, thanks to “One More Day” forgotten Peter being Spider-Man. He’s also inspired (and in some cases spawned) many imitators, as well—they’ve been more Goblins than just the other four included on this list.
As you have seen, Spider-Man has many worthy foes on this list. Nevertheless, the Green Goblin’s impact on the Spider-Man mythos cannot be denied. The question isn’t why is he’s Spider-Man’s greatest villain. The question is why wouldn’t he be?